Divided label-lift



Sept. 29, 1959 V. P.. SIMMONS DIVIDED LABEL-LIFT Filed Nov. 4, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 *a w l--- L D H D C HH HV B ,uw -IH l| A A ,IH o 1 Sept. 29, 1959 v. P. slMMoNs DIvInED LABELL1FT Filed Nov. 4, 1957 INVENTOR VAUGHAN P. SIMMONS ATTORNEYS v. P. slMMoNs 2,906,397

DIVIDED LABEL-LIFT 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS F-Vi a VAUGHAN P. SIMMONS BYW fg?. fz.

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-6-6-6 C r l v.AMTA A A Sept; 29, 1959 Filed Nov. 4, 1957 fik United States Patent DIVIDED LABEL-LIFT y Application November 4, 1957, Serial No. 694,381

11 Claims. (Cl. 20G-56) This invention relates to backed adhesive sheet material, easily removable from its backing; and resides more particularly in a divided label-lift, for initiating the successive removal of each of a series of precut portions of adhesive tape from a backing-board; and still more particularly in a series of pieces `of adhesive tape, removably mounted sidebyside in close proximity with each other on a substantially rectangular backing-board, an edge of which adjacent the ends of the pieces of tape, is divided into tabs by cuts extending only pant way across said board, each of said cuts lying between the two sides of one `of the pieces of tape, and thereby each of said tabs spans widthwise a part only of each of the ends of two adjacent pieces of tape.

Preferably each of said cuts is a straight line, lying midway between, and parallel to, the sides or" the piece of tape. d

Freferably a portion of the backing-board, where the same is split into tabs, extends either beyond the ends of the pieces `of tape, or beyond the side edge of one or both of the extreme pieces of tape, a sufficient distance to enable the extending. portion to be grasped between thumb and finger; but therev are also certain advantages to omitting this feature.

Pliant sheet material coated with permanently tacky e'nco'nesive adhesive, requiring no solvent to activate the same, is commonly called pressure sensitive adhesive tape.

For convenience such materials are herein called adhesive tape or adhesive sheet material. And, al-

. though the present invention is primarily applicable to tape in ribbon form, made of woven material such as surgeons tape or electrical friction tape, the term tape herein is intended to include generically labels and tape of other shapes and materials. Similarly, the term backing-board herein is intended to include generically a card, sufficiently stiff to conveniently support the tape, and yet sufficiently bendable for the performance of the invention as hereinafter described, and having a smooth facing which will not part from the backing-board nor impair the adhesive coating of the ltape, and from which the tape can be readily peeled.

Heretcfore series of separable portions of adhesive tape have been mounted side-by-side on backing-boards, for successive removal therefrom. But starting the removal of each piece of tape has been difficult, ,especially 4when the piecesof tape extend flush to the edges of the backing board. Picking at theedge of the tape with ones lfingernails has proved time-consumingrand annoying. Even the use ofa knifev or other sharp-pointed tool for lifting the edge of the tape has likewise proved time-consuming'and annoying.A Even' the expedient of a severable marginal .portion of the .mounting board, underlying the ends .of the. pieces of tape, which portion can be severed and then peeled-cti to expose said ends so that the same may b e i grasped; for removal, as lexernpliiied in U.`S. Patents Nos.

vv`2,1435557-@5 and V2,681,732, has no t proved altogether satisfactory, asy it weakens the backing-board,y `and is apt to expose the adhesive cf morewpiees yof tape than are v d 2,906,392' Patented Sept. 29, 19159 needed, especially whenever it becomes necessary to remove a piece of tape out of its successive order.

Accordingly itI is the principal object of the present invention to provide a more simple expedient for initiating the removal of the pieces of tape, and to eliminate'the above objections. f n

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the description which follows.

In the description, vreference is made to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which there are shown, by way of illustration and not of limitation, certain speciiic forms in which the article of manufacture of the present invention may be embodied.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan View 'of the backed adhesive tape of the present invention, with they face which consists of the tape turned toward the observer. v l

Fig. 2 is a-view' ofthe reverse face of the saine, i.e., the face which consists of the backing-board.'

Fig. 3 is an edge view, as seen from the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is the same view as Fig. 3, after the left-hand tab of the backing-board has been bent down and the .left-hand piece of tape has been partially peeled off.

Fig. 5 is an edge view ofthe situation portrayed in Fig. 4, as seen from the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is the same view as Fig. l, after the left-hand piece of tape has been peeled olf.

Fig. 7 is a plan View, corresponding to Fig. l, of a second variant of the backed adhesive tape of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a plan view,lcorresponding to Fig. 1, of a third variant of the backedy adhesive tape of the present inven- Fig. 9 is a plan view, corresponding to Fig. l, of a fourth variant of the backed adhesive'tape of the present invention.'

Fig. 10 is a plan view, corresponding to Fig. 1, of a fifth variant of the backed adhesive tape of the present invention.

Fig. 11 is a plan view, corresponding to Fig. 1, of a sixth variant of the backed adhesive tapeof the present invention.

Fig. 12 is a plan view, in the alternative, of two subvariants of a seventh variant of the backed adhesive tape of the present invention. L j

Throughout thedescr`iption, the saine reference numeral is yapplied kto they same member or similar members. w

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly Figs. l,` 2 `and 3, it willbe seen that 1-1 represents each of a series of pieces of` adhesive tape removably attached to backing-board 12 by means of adhesive 13. d

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the four pieces oftape are lettered A, B, C, and D respectively. This, or a series of numbers or symbols, can serve to identify the respective tapes, in directionsV for their use. i

An edge .of .the backing-board, adjacent the ends of the pieces ,of tape, is divided by la series of cuts 14 into `a series of tabs 15. Although cuts 14 could consist of scoring, perfor-ating, or otherwise weakening the backing-board to elfect'ready separation of tab from tab, ,cutting completely through preferred. Preferably, although not necessarily, the extent of cuts 14 across the boardis limited 'to divisionrinto relatively short tabs.

Allachfof"these cutsfliers'between the two sides of one of thjepieces of tape. Thus (see Fig. l) the irst tab from the leftis uncoveredindpartyand in part underlies Atape A; the'is'econd tab fromf the left underlies 'parts oftapes A and B.; the4 third tab Vunderlies parts of tapes Band C;

fth tab partly underliesetu liadpartlypotwdes 4.9-

covered to the right.

In the rst species of theinvention, portrayed in Figs. `1 to 5, the cuts are str aghtlineseach ofY which is sub.- stantially parallel to, and substantially half-way between, the two sides of one piece of tape.

, To remove the tapes in order, starting Ifrom the left, one can grasp the exposed corner 16 of the left-hand tab between the thumb and forefinger of ones left hand, and grasp the second tab (and the adjoining portions of the ends of tapes A and B) between the thumb and forefinger of ones right hand. Thenbend back the iirst tab, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, thus freeing the first tab from tape A. Then, still maintaining the hold of the left hand, the right thumb and finger can grasp the thus-exposed corner 1'1V of tape A, and vpeelotf this piece of tape. The start of this peeling is shown'in Figs..4.and 5.

This leaves the three remaining tapes and the backing-board in the conditionshownin Fig..6.. No piece of tape, except piece A, has even partially or temporarily been removed, nor evenloosened,v this fact being an important feature of the present invention.`

To remove tape B, grasp the exposed corner 18 of the second tab, as corner 16 of the rst tab was formerly grasped; and the third. tab as the second tab was formerly grasped; and proceed as before.

Somewhat similarly the tapes can be removed in re- Verse order, by starting at the right and reversing the procedure.

Another way of starting at the left would be to grasp both corner 16 of the iirst tab and corner 17 of tape A with the left thumb and finger, and to grasp with the right thumb and finger the end of tape B and the mutually adjacent corners of the second and third tabs which underlie it. Then bend up the rst tab. Then, still maintaining the hold of the left hand, the right thumb and nger can grasp the thus-exposed comer 19 of tape A, and peel off this piece of tape.

This leaves the` three remaining tapes and the backingboard in the condition shown in Fig. 6, just as did the lirstdescribed procedure.- The first-described procedure or the second-described procedure can then be used toremove the remaining tapes. i Y

To remove-apiece-oftape outof--order, simplygrasp,

`withthe lefthand theend-of the tapetc'the'leftA ofthe desired piece, and with the right hand theend o f' the tape to the right of the desiredpiece. Then-bend'one down, and the other up,'thus exposing a starting corner of the desired tape, and peel it oifl Various otherproceduresy of starting and peeling-olf the pieces of tape in any desired order,fwill"readily suggest themselves.

Fig. 7 shows a second species of the present invention. In this second species curved cuts 20 in backing-board 12 take the place of the'straight cuts '14 ofthe vfirst species. Y 'i The procedure of starting and removal is similar, but in the second species is more readily performed starting from the left.' v, g J

Fig. 8 shows a third speciesV of the present invention. I'his thirdI species combines the' features of the second species withrtransverse scoring 21, whichmay be 'offthe type of the transverse scoring .of eitherV of thetwo a1- ready-mentioned Patents A2,434,545 and 2,681,732. Note that transverse scoring 21 contacts cuts,2,0. ,This combination enables each successive tab-15 to be broken olf and discarded, after it has been used. l. l

Fig. 9v shows 'a fourth species 'of the present inventron, somewhat similar to the second species, butfwith a somewhat dilerent-shaped cut 22`dividing the backingboard into tabs.v Still other shapes of cut coldb'eemployed, `butY thev straightV 'cut' 1`4of the 'r's't` 4species is" pie'- ferred: l. t -..f .,J In all of the species itisimportalng'falthough not absolutely essential, that `nor'ie'ofthe' cts"`wlii`li QY 'the I Y 4 g edge of the backing-board into tabs, shall extend beyond vvmoreuthan one of -the pieces'iofitape. "Such extending would not only render somewhat more diicult the starting of removal of a desired piece of tape, but would also render likely the premature exposing of the adhesive of an adjoining piece of tape.

Fig. 10 shows a fifth species of the present invention. It is the preferred embodiment, and (as shown) differs from the first species in that its backing-board 12 does not extend beyond the pieces of tape 11 to the right or left, but rather extends beyondV the ends of the pieces of tape. It is not important to this iifth species whether the backing-board does or does not extend to the right or left, or to the bottom in the figure, but the distinguishing feature of .the present variant is that the tabs 23 do extend beyond the ends of the pieces of tape.

This fifth species is designed primarily for use as identication 'labels for marking electrical wiring or the like. To this end, the pieces of tape are usually successively printed with a series of numbers, symbols, or (as shown) letters, each number, symbol, or letter being repeated a plurality of times on its respective piece of tape.

Removal of any desired piece of tape is very simply effected, as follows. The two tabs 23 which underlie the desired piece of tape are each grasped with the thumb and linger of one hand. Then either tab is bent down and the other is bent up, thus freeing the tape corner which overlies the bent-down tab. The thus-exposed corner is then grasped and the tape peeled-off.

It will be seen, by comparing the species of Fig. l0 with the four earlier species, that the starting of the removal of a piece of tape is facilitated by having a portion of the backing-board, at or near where the backing-board is divided into tabs, extend beyond an edge or the ends of the pieces of tape, so that thethus-extending portion can be grasped between thumb and finger. This extending can be accomplished in at least two or more ways. For example, beyond the outer edge of tape A or D, as a single tab, as in Figs. 1, 7, 8 and 9. .Or, for example,

beyond the ends of a plurality of pieces of tape, as a plurality of tabs, as in Fig. 10.

However, inasmuch as the tape can be readily removed without having such an extending portion, and as the omission of such extending portions produces a neater, sturdier, and more compact device, more readily stacked and unstacked, it is within the scope of the invention to omit such extending portions. Accordingly Fig. 1l shows such a device as a sixth species.

Methods of successive removal of pieces of tape of the sixth species, either in order or out of order, will readily suggest themselves by analogy tothe methods suggested for the first species.

In view of the fifth and sixth species, when reference is made in the claims to an edge of the backing-board being adjacent to one end of the pieces of tape, this word is not intended to'irnply a limitation to the ends of the tape extending, or not extending, clear to the edge of the backing-board.

Fig. l2 shows alternatively two subvariants of a seventh species. This seventh species combines the features of any of the preceding species, preferably the fth, with transverse scoring 24 or 25, which may be of the type of the transverse scoring of either of the two already-men- `piece"of tape up from the bottom. Preferably only one the backing-board is divided into tabs. Then, if the adi hesive sheet material has a grain such as surgeons tape,

or electric friction-tape, or other similar textile material,

each piece of tape could be torn off of the sheet, as needed. Accordingly this expedient is within the scope of the present invention, and such partially divided sheet material is to be considered as a series of pieces of tape.

When reference is made in the claims to the cuts which divide the backing-board into tabs, the word cut is intended to include cutting clear through, scoring, perforations, or other weakenings which facilitate separating tab from tab. Nor, except where speciiically recited, is there any implied limitation as to the distance which these cuts extend.

'It will be readily evident from the foregoing description that the present invention affords a novel and useful backed adhesive sheet material, wherein a series of pieces of adhesive tape are easily removable from their backingboard.

Now that seven embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, and several departures therefrom have been suggested, it is Ito be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts herein shown and described.

The steps of the procedures for removing the pieces of tape are not to be imported into the article claims.

What is claimed is:

l. Backed adhesive sheet material, comprising: a substantially rectangular backing-board; and a series of pieces of adhesive tape removably attached to the backing-board by their adhesive, and disposed side-by-side thereon in close proximity to each other; the combination being characterized by the fact that an edge of the backingboard, which edge is adjacent to one end of the pieces of tape, is divided into tabs by cuts extending only part way across said backing-board, each of said tabs spanning widthwise a part only of each of the ends of two adjacent pieces of tape.

2. Backed adhesive sheet material according to claim l, wherein a portion of the backing-board, where the same is divided into tabs, extends beyond the adjacent ends of the pieces of tape a suicient distance to enable the extending portion to be grasped between thumb-and linger.

3. Backed adhesive sheet material according to claim 1, wherein there is a scoring extending transversely across the backing-board beyond the inner ends of the cuts, to permit selective use of ithe tabs or the scoring to start the removal of the pieces of tape from the backing-board.

4. Backed adhesive sheet material according to claim l, wherein a portion of the backing-board, where the same is divided into tabs, extends beyond the pieces of tape a suiicient distance to enable Ithe extending portion to be grasped between thumb and iinger.

5. Backed adhesive sheet material according to claim 4, wherein the extending portion is at the extreme side of one of the extreme pieces of tape.

6. Backed adhesive sheet material according to claim 1, wherein each cut which divides an edge of the backingboard into tabs -is a substantially straight line lying substantially parallel to the two sides of the adjacent piece of tape.

7. Backed adhesive sheet material according to claim 6, wherein each cut which divides an edge of the backingboard into tabs lies substantially midway between the two sides of the adjacent piece of tape.

8. Backed adhesive sheet material according to claim l, wherein there is a scoring extending transversely across the backing-board.

9. Backed adhesive sheet material according to claim 8, wherein the scoring extends across the cuts adjacent their inner ends, to permit breaking-olic successive tabs along the line of such scoring, after these tabs have served ktheir purpose.

10. Backed adhesive sheet material, comprising: a substantially rectangular backing-board; and adhesive sheet material removably attached to the backing-board by its adhesive, said sheet being at least partially divided into pieces of tape, by parallel cuts extending at least part way across said sheet; the combination being characterized by the fact that the backing-board, along the edge thereof adjacent the dividing cuts of the sheet, is divided into tabs by cuts extending only part way across said board, each of said tabs spanning widthwise a part only of each of two adjacent divided portions of the sheet.

1l. Backed adhesive sheet material according to claim l0, wherein the sheet material has a grain; and Wherein the cuts in the sheet material lie with the grain, and extend only part way across the sheet material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,325,999 Snyder Aug. 3, 1943 2,372,994 Welch Apr. 3, 1945 2,556,561 Sutton June 12, 1951 2,679,928 Bishop et al. June 1, 1954 2,811,245 Menke Oct. 29, 1957 

